U2360° TOUR

There were 50,000 through the doors of the Ataturk Olympic Stadium tonight to mark the band's first ever appearance in Turkey and if the anticipation was high, no-one was let down. The Return of the Stingray Guitar set the scene and by the time Beautiful Day led into New Year's Day Istanbul was jumping.

'Great to see ya...' said Bono, taking a breath. 'Have we the spirit to rock this Olympic Stadium? Where are we going? Ankara... Izmira... Antalya... Istanbul?'

Lots of special touches tonight, all the way through the set, from My Sweet Lord in 'Beautiful Day' to John I'm Only Dancing in 'Crazy' and the girl invited onstage for a dance during In A Little While.

'It took us a while to come to your magical city of Istanbul,' explained Bono. 'What is going on in this country is good for the whole world...
'Its a beautiful bridge...
'From the past into the future...
'From where Europe has been to where Europe needs to go... a bridge of understanding...'

The emotion of the night was never more evident than with the first live performance since Chile in 2006 of Mothers of the Disappeared. It was dedicated 'to the memory of Fehmi Tosun - whose family are with us tonight.' Fehmi disappeared in Turkey in 1995, as the band highlighted on the sleeve of 1997's Pop album.

Extraordinarily poignant to hear this song back in the set - 'We hear their heartbeat...' - and at the end Bono asked everyone, 'Would you please welcome Zulfu Livaneli?'

The famous Turkish artist and political activist received a huge reception telling everyone:
'We are the music makers,
We are the dreamers,
Welome Bono,
Welcome friends to Turkey...'
For a moment Zulfu took over the vocals, his guitarist playing Edge's guitar, Bono watching, hand on chest - the whole audience joining in with this remarkable performer.

At the close of With or Without You, Bono thanked the audience for their patience. 'Let's not make it so long before we come back... alright this is moment of surrender.'

Were you in Istanbul tonight? We want to hear from you. Add your own review and upload your photos below.

COMMENTS

With my girlfriend (now Wife) made the journey from chile, especially to see U2, It was the best experience of our lifes.

robchik87

07 July, 2011

Best day in my life!

It was an unforgettable day! I got a heavenly pleasure. Hope to see you again. Thank you for a great show. Waiting for you in Georgia, Tbilisi.

27 March, 2011

Magnificent

It was magnificent:))thank you!!!

14 January, 2011

Did you hear my heartbeat!?!

Thank you for the great night Bono, Larry, Edge and Adam!!! And Snow Patrol and the guys from your team! I travelled from Sofia, Bulgaria to see the concert with my friends and we even got lucky to sneak right in front of the stage. It was my second U2 concert since the Sarajevo gig in 1997 and I hope, hope, pray and again hope that my thrid one will be in Sofia. I jumped and sang along and I even kicked come poeple around me while going crazy on your songs and I loved that you played the new ones along with some oldies and glodies, especially one of my personal favourites, Ultraviolet! Thanks! And xoxoxox! C'mon, guys, we're waiting for you here as well!!! Keep on giving me this sweet feeling of vertigo with your songs and, please, get on your boots and just in a little while come to Sofia!

14 January, 2011

Did you hear my heartbeat!?!

Thank you for the great night Bono, Larry, Edge and Adam!!! And Snow Patrol and the guys from your team! I travelled from Sofia, Bulgaria to see the concert with my friends and we even got lucky to sneak right in front of the stage. It was my second U2 concert since the Sarajevo gig in 1997 and I hope, hope, pray and again hope that my thrid one will be in Sofia. I jumped and sang along and I even kicked come poeple around me while going crazy on your songs and I loved that you played the new ones along with some oldies and glodies, especially one of my personal favourites, Ultraviolet! Thanks! And xoxoxox! C'mon, guys, we're waiting for you here as well!!! Keep on giving me this sweet feeling of vertigo with your songs and, please, get on your boots and just in a little while come to Sofia!

Bilun

10 November, 2010

BEAUTIFUL DAY

2 months went over the concert and I am still thinking sometimes "was it a dream?".
I must say, it was the most amazing concert I have ever been at!! It was magnificent, it was fascinating!! The atmosphere at the concert was something I never felt before!! The Energy was sooo amazing.
We were there together with 6 friends and nobody wanted it to finish. But of course the concerd had an end, as everything has.
We all are looking forward 2 the next and believe in Bono's words :"Let's not make it so long again, we'll come back." Please, come back.
Thanks to all of you, Bono, Edge, Adam, Larry, thanks to you guys, it was one of my most "Beautiful Day"s...
Bilun from Istanbul

NiniOne

19 October, 2010

Magnificent

The show was absolutely amazing,many thanks to U2!!!
Greetings from Georgia

Aivilo

27 September, 2010

WOW!!!

It was a perfect night for me, for us! We came from Romania to see u guys. It was magic for me. Thank you, my love for the tickets! I love you, and it was the perfect gift ever!
Hope to see you performing in Romania also. We are a big community of U2 FANS!!! And our stadium will be full, I am sure!!!
Congrats, congrats, congrats!
Olivia

Aivilo

24 September, 2010

WOW!!!

It was a perfect night for me, for us! We came from Romania to see u guys. It was magic for me. Thank you, my love for the tickets! I love you, and it was the perfect gift ever!
Hope to see you performing in Romania also. We are a big community of U2 FANS!!! And our stadium will be full, I am sure!!!
Congrats, congrats, congrats!
Olivia

rurke

19 September, 2010

Super!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you, Bono, Edge, Adam, Larry!!!!!!!!!!!!
Unforgettable show!

18 September, 2010

ultraviolet baby

istanbul was
magnificient
beautiful day
moment of surrender
and the unforgettable fire

kisemjik

17 September, 2010

amazing night

thank u 2 come to istanbul and had a great concert for us.. that was an amazing night.. in the some part of the concert i was gonna cry because of being so happy:))
thank you guys, loves from istanbul!

13 September, 2010

Outstanding

It was an unbelievable night, it was an outstanding concert.... Thansk to all for made it happen.

13 September, 2010

do you know what you have done?

It's been a week now since the concert is over but believe it or not Turks are still under the spell... We still follow what Bono is doing at the other of the world. The colomnists refer to Bono, people ask for old U2 CDs from their friends etc etc.
Was it the great music? Yes, to some extend
Was it the magnificient show? Yes, most part of it
Was it Bono's duet with Zulfu? Yes, we loved it
Was it because it was the first time? Yes, that may be it
It was neither and all of the above. I think we could see eye to eye with them, we could feel that U2 loved Istanbul and they knew that we were already waiting for them. We could feel that the admiration was reciprocal. We could see that U2 loved us the way we are, but it was also good to know that they cared about the things that must change in this country too.
We Turks make revolutions, not evolutions :) .... This was a revolutionary kind of love for us. Shot from the heart !
Come and kill us with your songs again....

jaanakulo

13 September, 2010

The best basketball team

It was my 6th 360 show. From Helsinki rain to Istanbul rain. This time have to admit the city grew over the band. Starting with sensational Livanelli with the crowd in the concert (I was raining).
Istanbul made such a 1st impression on me that I want just thank You all Turkish people who still have friendliness and dignity as virtue. Very special, very honourable.
Like the game against Serbia. :)
And U2 got me there. "Let it rain, let it rain, rain on me..."
While I was on one day shopping & by the way holding the rain... In between all great Turkish music suddenly from the radio... I sharpened my ears, can it be. And sure, it was the song that still EVERY single time where ever when ever moves me. One. And after again more lovely Turkish music.
Miracles happen just like that.
Also it was great to see the road crew, the team with Snow Patrol. Hmmm. Could I apply for a job?
- Life is lovely, so let it grow.

12 September, 2010

with you U2

I dont know what to say on that unforgettable night...I am thrilled,amazed,,..Bono, my one and only Bono..you and your friends made every single human being in the stadium cry...thanks for playing with or without you,thanks for being with us in ist...love you sooooooo much

gloRIA1

12 September, 2010

Unforgettable night in Istanbul

What a great night! Still can't believe U2 played Mothers Of The Disappeared. I think this photo captures the emotion of this very special show. Thank you so much, U2!!!! Ria Monster, Holland (www.dutchelevation.nl)

jreduojeda

11 September, 2010

Correction

"Mothers of the Disappeared" was played previously for the last time in Buenos Aires on March 2, 2006. Not in Chile as mentioned in the information. Only this small correction. Greetings from Argentina Esteban.

11 September, 2010

it was biutiful nite

thank you adam
thank you bono
thank you edge
thank you larry
ISTANBUL LOVES YOU

gloRIA1

11 September, 2010

Unforgettable night in Istanbul

Here's a photo of Bono kneeling down at the end of Crazy Tonight. I think this photo captures the emotion of that night. It was a very special concert with Mothers Of The Disappeared and Turkish singer Zülfü Livanelli. Still can't believe we were actually there. Thank you U2 for a fantastic night.
Ria Monster, Holland
www.dutchelevation.nl

alchera

11 September, 2010

Finally found what i'm looking for...com

It was a beautiful night with a magical atmosphere. We set off early to not to get stuck in traffic and arrived at the stadium at around 5 pm. The moment we entered the venue and found our places I regretted buying grandstand seats.The stage looked so far away! I got tickets from the grandstand because I thought if we got standing tickets we would be too late to find a place close to the stage and be left at the far back. However, when we finally got inside, the stadium was not even half full yet. (Mind you The Olympic Stadium is quite far from the city center and it was a week day so I can understand why so many people got late) Then the rain and the relentless wind started and we had to take shelter under the covered stands. We were freezing! For a while I thought the weather was gonna stay like that but fortunately, the rain stopped. When we got back to our seats, Snow Patrol came on! I LOVE them to bits and they were awesome. Gary Lightbody was wearing a red shirt with a white tie as a kind gesture to the Turkish flag and he was so sweet. Seeing the whole U2 crew coming on stage during Chasing Cars was amazing, really moving. I was disappointed when they left, wished they'd stayed on stage a little more, but at the same time determined to find our way into the standing area. We tried to talk the security guy into letting us in - there were a couple of more people who wanted to do the same - but he wasn't giving in! Finally, he couldn't stand our pleas and we managed to convince him, lol. As soon as he opened the door, me and my friend rushed in! Found our way into the crowd somehow. We couldn't really see the stage from where we were standing inside the arena but we were somewhere in the middle of the crowd and the atmosphere was awesome. I caught a glimpse of Bono or the Edge every now and then, though. Of course, the stage looked even more magnificent so close. The highlights of the concert for me were the songs most of all.. each song memorable and it was as if I'd been listening to them in the studio, the sound was that clear and perfect. Where The Streets Have No Name, Sunday Bloody Sunday, In a little While, Blind, Vertigo ... One, With or Without You... I really wished to hear Desire - one of my fave U2 songs but hopefully next time :-) Bono thanking us for being patient for so long, acknowledging Fehmi Tosun once again - this time on stage, dedicating Mothers of the Disappeared to him and his family, singing the last verses with Zulfu Livaneli- and then singing along to "Yigidim Aslanim" with the whole crowd... never in my life I could have thought or imagined singing a Turkish song out loud in a U2 concert:) That was a remarkable experience. As for the booing - it was aimed at the minister Egemen Bagis -not Bono and although first I was taken aback by the reaction (I couldn't catch the name Egemen Bagis then and was thinking what's wrong with crossing the bridge on foot? lol). But Bono handled the situation perfectly and when he said he was not going to mention politician names any more... we all cheered! I'm not sorry about the reaction and i'm sure Bono didn't take it personally but it was important to let the band see that how a remarkable number of people are actually feeling resentful towards the government and its members and can't even stand to hear their names, and rightfully so. Anyway, ultraviolet and without or without you were great songs for the finale... I just didn't want it to end! Hope you'll come again U2... we loved having you here! Thank you for such an amazing ecperience...

celenk55

11 September, 2010

Magnificent

he night was amazing. thank you. please come back...

Rinzz

10 September, 2010

Amazing !!!

Great experience , magical show and extraordinary stage ...
Cheers from Beirut !!!

Rinzz

10 September, 2010

Amazing !!!

That was an amazing experience flying from Beirut to Istanbul for the concert .... different world, magical music, extraordinary stage ....PERFECT !!!
Cheers ...

lionfish

10 September, 2010

In one word... AMAZING

I am just so grateful that i was able to go to the Istanbul concert! Even it was my 6th 360 concert, this one is my number one! It started out with the soundcheck of Mercy!!! OMG I thought I died and gone to heaven :) TSK TSK TSK for that :) I loved the concert and the city of Istanbul, we had an amzing time! Also many thanx to Snow Patrol, they played a great set and i just love Gary, he's so nice and enthusiastic, so touching when all the crew joined him on stage.
I still on a high! THANK YOU

ethrnz

10 September, 2010

Wow!

Great stuff, cheers for all the Turkish fans, and that song with Zülfü Livanelli was amazing, and made the whole night truly unforgettable!!! Also many many thanks to Hakan and Asle, who allowed us in their cars and drive us back in town from the chaos :)

10 September, 2010

Thank you for making music...

I am one of the lucky person who watched U2 live twice. I went to see them all the way to Amsterdam last year. I would like to thank everybody whoever involved for U2 to play in Turkey this year. I loved every single song they had played on stage. It was a lifetime experience to sing thier songs together in Istanbul. Also U2 made this night so special having Zulfu Livaneli on stage. THANK YOU....

sezen

10 September, 2010

to Brilioth

Hi the song sang with Zulfu was " yigidim aslanim burada yatiyor"
search in youtube
enjoyy

Galeon

10 September, 2010

Supersiniz!

Me and my wife had a great night after waiting for 15 years for U2 to come but i was worth it :)
if I had a chance to organize the set list i would have chosen the same songs..
thank you for a very beautiful night and as Bono said lets not make it so long :)

09 September, 2010

Istanbul!!

I am Italian and I dream for the next concert in ISTANBUL!! It was amazing! People, the city and my dream band U2! Best show ever with beauiful people!
Ciao ciao!
(Roma is amazing too : )))